Resume Tips
1. Use Bulleted Sentences
In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly; therefore make key phrases stand out. Bulleting information will help the reader view your accomplishments at a glance. Again, don't worry about the specifics; you will go into the details during the interview.
2. Use %'s, $'s and #'s
You should always use %'s, $'s and #'s. Dollar totals, numbers, and percentages stand out in the body of a resume. Below are two examples of a job duty described with them (good), and without (bad). As you can see by the examples, being specific does not mean being lengthy.
- Example 1
- Bad: Account manager for advertising agency
- Good: Managed 15 strategic accounts billing in excess of $15MM annually
- Example 2
- Bad: Sold widgets to clients located in the Midwest
- Good: Increased sales by 17% in a 5-state territory
3. Highlight Your Strengths
Highlight your strengths, and what is most relevant to the potential employer. In-coming resumes are often quickly reviewed, so put forth the effort and determine which bullets most strongly support your job search objective. Put the strong and most relevant points first where they are more apt to be read. This is your hook for the reader; the rest of your resume reels them in.
4. Match Needs
Match the need they have - review our job posting, note the keywords listed there, and match them to the bullet points in your resume. Chances are that you have some of these as key points already, however if you have missed any, add them to your resume. Using a custom resume instead of a generic one will greatly increase your chances of an interview, as you will be a better match in the eyes of the reader. By no means should you be dishonest about your qualifications, just be sure to point out any qualifications that you have that the employer is looking for.
5. Be Positive
Above all in your resume and interview - you must be positive. Therefore, leave off negatives and irrelevant points. If you do some duties in your current job that doesn't support your job search objective, don't include them. Focus on the duties that do support your objective, and leave off irrelevant personal information like your race, weight, and height.
6. White Space is Important
Ad Design 101 - white space is important. Open up the newspaper, and take note of which ads first catch your attention. Are they the ads that are jammed full of text, or are they ads that have a large amount of unused space "white space". This is done to grab your attention, as readers are always attracted to open areas. For this reason, don't worry if you are having a hard time filling the page with text; increase your line spacing to compensate.
7. Formatting Guidelines
The font size should be no smaller than 10 point, preferably using a standard serif font. Don't use intricate fonts that are hard to read or may not be on the employer's computer. The length of your resume should be 1-2 pages. Yes, you read correctly; you can use more than one page. But remember, keep it concise. It's ok to use two pages for your resume, however it is not necessary.
8. Get 3rd Party Advice
Ask a friend, and get an outside opinion on your resume before sending it off. - Have a friend or co-worker review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you to note all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Having someone subjectively review your resume can give you insight into how others will view your personal marketing materials - would your resume impress them? If not, why? Don't settle for - "it's good", and encourage them to ask questions. The questions of the reader can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your resume. Take their comments into consideration, and revise your resume accordingly. In addition to adding in missed items, their questions can also point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Ask your Auxillus recruiter for advice in adapting your resume to best fit the position.
9. Digital/Hard Copy
Check to see how your resume looks on paper. Offer it in different formats. Word and .pdf are generally the most accepted.
10. Speed Counts
Don't delay. Many of Auxillus' positions have limited time windows. If we have requested it, get your resume to us ASAP. If you are working on it, let us know so that we can plan accordingly.